A crackdown on footballers time-wasting – including by feigning injury – is to make its top-flight debut this weekend.
Reading are to share a division with Mansfield Town for the first time in over 30 years following their promotion from League Two. The Stags, managed by legendary player Nigel Clough, were a non-league outfit a decade ago but have endured multiple near-misses of reaching the third tier. Beating Accrington Stanley 2-1 on Tuesday, Mansfield have taken the final automatic promotion spot with two matches to spare.
Former Reading favourite Tom McIntyre has bounced immediately back to the Championship as his new side, Portsmouth, secured the League One title on Tuesday evening. 25-year-old McIntyre rose through the ranks with his boyhood club and made over 100 appearances for the first team. A mainstay in the side in recent seasons, the former Scotland youth international played 38 matches as the Royals were relegated out of the Championship last season.